Skip to main content

From “Mind and Body” to “Mind in Body”: A Research Approach for a Description of Personality as a Functional Unit of Thoughts, Behaviours and Affective States

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Neural Approaches to Dynamics of Signal Exchanges

Abstract

The study of personality has been developed according to different lines of research in which it is also possible to identify transversal elements that are useful for an unprecedented trans-theoretical research programme. The existence of a close relation between the contents of thought (narrative system) and the vegetative and motor functions (experiential system) of the human being is currently considered of great relevance. However, until now, the studies using classic psychological test in order to describe the contents of the narrative system customize the experiential system and produce partial descriptions and non-integrated description of the personality. Nevertheless, when the people reflect about the questions in a personality test, they present (under the action of this cognitive stimulus) a synchronous activity of the narrative and experiential system. The intention of the study proposed in this paper, with the use of biofeedback and neurofeedback methods, is to record the physiological responses of the subject while answering to the items of a personality test, in order to describe it as a functional unit of thoughts, behaviours and affective states. The personality assessment tool, Cloninger’s temperament and character inventory, will be provided with a computerized system: the electrophysiological recording will be produced using the neurofeedback system “Neurobit Optima 4”; for the analysis of electrophysiological measurements, software (“BioExplorer” system) will be used to manage the brain–computer interface (BCI). It is expected that the aforementioned methodology will allow for an original description of the personality as a functional unit of thoughts, behaviours and affective states.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Maldonato, N.M., Sperandeo, R., Dell’Orco, S., Cozzolino, P., Fusco, M.L., Iorio, V.S., Cipresso, P.: The relationship between personality and neurocognition among the American elderly: an epidemiologic study. Clin. Pract. Epidemiol. Ment. Health: CP & EMH 13, 233 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Noë, A.: Perché non siamo il nostro cervello: una teoria radicale della coscienza. Raffaello Cortina (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Inkster, M., Wellsby, M., Lloyd, E., Pexman, P.M.: Development of embodied word meanings: sensorimotor effects in children’s lexical processing. Front. Psychol. 7, 317 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Barca, L., Mazzuca, C., Borghi, A.M.: Pacifier overuse and conceptual relations of abstract and emotional concepts. Front. Psychol. 8 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Vallet, G.T., Hudon, C., Bier, N., Macoir, J., Versace, R., Simard, M.: A SEMantic and EPisodic Memory Test (SEMEP) developed within the embodied cognition framework: application to normal aging, Alzheimer’s disease and semantic dementia. Front. Psychol. 8, 1493 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Epstein, S.: Cognitive-Experiential Theory: An Integrative Theory of Personality. Oxford University Press (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Di Nubila, R.D., Fedeli, M.: L’esperienza: quando diventa fattore di formazione e di sviluppo: dall’opera di David A. Kolb alle attuali metodologie di Experiential Learning Testimonianze e case study. Pensa multimedia (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Johnson-Glenberg, M.C., Megowan-Romanowicz, C., Birchfield, D.A., Savio-Ramos, C.: Effects of embodied learning and digital platform on the retention of physics content: centripetal force. Front. Psychol. 7, 1819 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Lozada, M., Carro, N.: Embodied action improves cognition in children: evidence from a study based on Piagetian conservation tasks. Front. Psychol. 7, 393 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Kuo, C.Y., Yeh, Y.Y.: Sensorimotor-conceptual integration in free walking enhances divergent thinking for young and older adults. Front. Psychol. 7, 1580 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Sperandeo, R., Maldonato, M., Baldo, G., Dell’Orco, S.: Executive functions, temperament and character traits: a quantitative analysis of the relationship between personality and prefrontal functions. In: 2016 7th IEEE International Conference on Cognitive Infocommunications (CogInfoCom), pp. 000043–000048. IEEE (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kandel, E.R., Schwartz, J.H., Jessell, T.M.: Principi di neuroscienze (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Cantone, D., Sperandeo, R., Maldonato, M.: A dimensional approach to personality disorders in a sample of juvenile offenders. Rev. Latinoam. Psicopatol. Fundam. 15(1), 42–57 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Sperandeo, R., Picciocchi, E., Valenzano, A., Cibelli, G., Ruberto, V., Moretto, E., et al.: Exploring the relationships between executive functions and personality dimensions in the light of “embodied cognition” theory: a study on a sample of 130 subjects. Acta Med. Mediterr. 34(5), 1271–1279 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Rogers, C.R.: Libertà nell’apprendimento (1969), tr. it. a cura di R. Tettucci, Giunti-Barbera, Firenze (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Chen, X., Liu, B., Lin, S.: Is accessing of words affected by affective valence only? A discrete emotion view on the emotional congruency effect. Front. Psychol. 7, 916 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Bruner, J.S., Rini, R.: La mente a più dimensioni. Laterza (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Setti, A., Borghi, A.M.: Embodied cognition over the lifespan: theoretical issues and implications for applied settings. Front. Psychol. 9, 550 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Dewey, J.: Esperienza e natura, trad. it. Milano: Mursia (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Adams, A.M.: How language is embodied in bilinguals and children with specific language impairment. Front. Psychol. 7, 1209 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Jeannerod, M.: Motor Cognition: What Actions Tell the Self, vol. 42. Oxford University Press (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Borghi, A.M., Setti, A.: Abstract concepts and aging: an embodied and grounded perspective. Front. Psychol. 8, 430 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Thill, S., Twomey, K.E.: What’s on the inside counts: a grounded account of concept acquisition and development. Front. Psychol. 7, 402 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Pouw, W.T., Van Gog, T., Zwaan, R.A., Paas, F.: Augmenting instructional animations with a body analogy to help children learn about physical systems. Front. Psychol. 7, 860 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Repetto, C., Serino, S., Macedonia, M., Riva, G.: Virtual reality as an embodied tool to enhance episodic memory in elderly. Front. Psychol. 7, 1839 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Maldonato, M., Montuori, A., Dell’orco, S.: The exploring Mind. Natural Logic and Intelligence of the Unconscious. Mauro Maldonato (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Hainselin, M., Picard, L., Manolli, P., Vankerkore-Candas, S., Bourdin, B.: Hey teacher, don’t leave them kids alone: action is better for memory than reading. Front. Psychol. 8, 325 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Maldonato, M., Sperandeo, R., Dell’Orco, S., Iennaco, D., Cerroni, F., Romano, P., Tripi, G.: Mind, brain and altered states of consciousness. Acta Med. Mediterr. 34(2), 357–366 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  29. American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5®). American Psychiatric Publishing (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Sperandeo, R., Monda, V., Messina, G., Carotenuto, M., Maldonato, N.M., Moretto, E., Messina, A.: Brain functional integration: an epidemiologic study on stress-producing dissociative phenomena. Neuropsychiatric Dis. Treat. 14, 11 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Sloman, S., Fernback, P.: L’illusione della conoscenza. Raffaello Cortina (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Rizzolatti, G., Kalaska, J.E.: Il movimento volontario. In: Kandel et al. (eds.) La corteccia parietale e la corteccia premotoria, pp. 864–893 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Maldonato, N.M., Sperandeo, R., Dell’Orco, S., Cozzolino, P., Fusco, M.L., Iorio, V.S., Cipresso, P.: The relationship between personality and neurocognition among the american elderly: an epidemiologic study. Clin. Pract. Epidemiol. Ment. Health CP & EMH 13, 233 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Dempster, T.: An investigation into the optimum training paradigm for alpha electroencephalographic biofeedback. Doctoral dissertation, Canterbury Christ Church University (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Capellini, R., Sacchi, S., Ricciardelli, P., Actis-Grosso, R.: Social threat and motor resonance: when a menacing outgroup delays motor response. Front. Psychol. 7, 1697 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Glenberg, A.M., Hayes, J.: Contribution of embodiment to solving the riddle of infantile amnesia. Front. Psychol. 7, 10 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Evans, J.R., Abarbanel, A. (eds.): Introduction to Quantitative EEG and Neurofeedback. Elsevier (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Richez, A., Olivier, G., Coello, Y.: Stimulus-response compatibility effect in the near-far dimension: a developmental study. Front. Psychol. 7, 1169 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Cloninger, C.R., Przybeck, T.R., Svrakic, D.M., Wetzel, R.D.: The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI): A Guide to its Development and Use (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Maldonato, N.M., Sperandeo, R., Caiazzo, G., Cioffi, V., Cozzolino, P., De Santo, R.M., Nascivera, N.: Keep moving without hurting: the interaction between physical activity and pain in determining cognitive function at the population level. PLoS ONE 13(6), e0197745 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Hofer, S.M., Horn, J.L., Eber, H.W.: A robust five-factor structure of the 16PF: strong evidence from independent rotation and confirmatory factorial invariance procedures. Personality Individ. Differ. 23(2), 247–269 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Appollonio, I., Leone, M., Isella, V., Piamarta, F., Consoli, T., Villa, M.L., Nichelli, P.: The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB): normative values in an Italian population sample. Neurol. Sci. 26(2), 108–116 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Bryman, A., Cramer, D.: Quantitative Data Analysis with IBM SPSS 17, 18 & 19: A Guide for Social Scientists. Routledge (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Costello, M.C., Bloesch, E.K.: Are older adults less embodied? A review of age effects through the lens of embodied cognition. Front. Psychol. 8, 267 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Lécuyer, A., Lotte, F., Reilly, R.B., Leeb, R., Hirose, M., Slater, M.: Brain-computer interfaces, virtual reality, and videogames. Computer 41(10), 66–72 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Maldonato, N.M., Sperandeo, R., Moretto, E., Dell’Orco, S.: A non-linear predictive model of borderline personality disorder based on multilayer perceptron. Front. Psychol. 9, 447 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Barca, L., Mazzuca, C., Borghi, A.M.: Pacifier overuse and conceptual relations of abstract and emotional concepts. Front. Psychol. 8, 2014 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Ninaus, M., Moeller, K., Kaufmann, L., Fischer, M.H., Nuerk, H.C., Wood, G.: Cognitive mechanisms underlying directional and non-directional spatial-numerical associations across the lifespan. Front. Psychol. 8, 1421 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniela Iennaco .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Iennaco, D. et al. (2020). From “Mind and Body” to “Mind in Body”: A Research Approach for a Description of Personality as a Functional Unit of Thoughts, Behaviours and Affective States. In: Esposito, A., Faundez-Zanuy, M., Morabito, F., Pasero, E. (eds) Neural Approaches to Dynamics of Signal Exchanges. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 151. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8950-4_39

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics